Challenges encountered by smallholder farmers in adapting to adverse effects of climate change in semi-arid areas of Central Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Myeya, Helena E | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-11-13T09:02:03Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-11-13T09:02:03Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-11 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This article investigates adaptation measures and challenges facing smallholder farmers in adapting to climate change and variability effects in semiarid areas of Dodoma region, central Tanzania. Mixed method research approach under cross-sectional survey design was employed in data collection. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis have been used in analyzing and presenting the findings. The study results indicate that smallholder farmers have observed variations in rainfall and temperature trends that were linked to reduced cereal crop yields. The study noted that the farmers respond to reduced cereal crop yields by implementing various adaptive strategies. They include growing drought tolerant crop varieties, practicing intercropping, shifting the planting to earlier/later dates, increase farm sizes and out-migration. It was further found in this study that smallholder farmers encountered a number of challenges when they take adaptation measures to overcome declining crop yields. The challenges include inadequate capital, elevated agricultural equipment and input prices and absence of soft loans arrangements. Other challenges include low price for agricultural produce, poor weather information and agricultural extension services all of which rendered negative effects on cereal crop production and household food security. The impact of climate change and variability are conclusively evident in this study while effective smallholder farmer’s adaptation mechanisms are limited. To ensure household food security, purposeful institutional intervention plans and optimal support on extension services and provision of credit facilities are needed on viable adaptation strategies against impacts of climate change and variability in semiarid areas of Tanzania. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Myeya, H. E and Kisanga D. R (2018). Challenges encountered by smallholder farmers in adapting to adverse effects of climate change and variability in semiarid areas of Central Tanzania, Book chapter in Development in East Africa 1, Environment and Economy. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.issn | ISBN 978-83-7401-645-2 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/5814 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | University of Warsaw | en_US |
| dc.subject | Climate change and variability, adaptive strategies, challenges, food security, Dodoma, Tanzania | en_US |
| dc.title | Challenges encountered by smallholder farmers in adapting to adverse effects of climate change in semi-arid areas of Central Tanzania | en_US |
| dc.title.alternative | Development in East Africa Environment and Economy | en_US |
| dc.type | Book chapter | en_US |